Michael Henderson, courtesy of The Times, May 20 2017, where the title reads“Sangakkara produces a picture of an innings to put Surrey on top”

Sangakkara passed his portrait at Lord’s before his 113 not out yesterdayGRAHAM MORRIS/THE TIMES

At 12.30pm yesterday, after a dank morning that had just admitted the first trace of brightness, something remarkable occurred. On the fall of Surrey’s second wicket Kumar Sangakkara left the dressing room and, on the stairs that lead to the Long Room, the great Sri Lankan batsman walked past a portrait of himself that had been hung on the wall only the day before. He then made 113 of the most lyrical runs you will see this summer, or any summer, to remind everybody that he remains a cricketer in the present tense. No sentimentalist, he. Five months short of his 40th birthday, Sangakkara continues to bring distinction to a game that he has adorned for two decades, and aren’t we the lucky ones!

The CHAMPIONS TROPHY So

CARDIFF, WALES – SEPTEMBER 04: The ICC Champions Trophy during the 5th Royal London One day International match between England and Pakistan at SSE Swalec Cricket Ground on September 04, 2016 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images)

So — who will be the Player’s Champion at the end of the forthcoming competition?

Vithushan Ehantharajah, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, May 2017, with title as “Sangakkara celebrates the great unveiling

When they talk about the best players – the very best players – achievements, accolades and statistics only go so far. Kumar Sangakkara, scorer of 38 Test hundreds for Sri Lanka, approaching 20,000 runs in first-class cricket and an impressive humanitarian for good measure, finally has his hook. Some have statues, others have busts but the only fitting Sangakkara tribute could come via a brush rather than a hammer and chisel. And on the day that a portrait of the 39-year-old was unveiled in the Lord’s Pavilion, he treated Lord’s to the strokes of a genius.